Frankenstein

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was born in London, England, on August 30, 1797. Unfortunately, family tragedy plagued Mary for most of her life. Her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, died shortly after giving birth to her in 1797. Later, as a young adult, Mary was forced to deal with issues of adultery and suicide in her family. In …

Victor recounts his fervent love for science, explaining, “Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest sensations I can remember.” Victor implores Walton not to follow his example, warning, “Learn from me . . . how dangerous is the …

Theme Analysis Several themes seem to run through Shelleys Frankenstein, some obvious, others subtle. The most widely heralded theme is the idea that ignorance is bliss. In Shelleys time, the power of human reason, through science and technology, challenged many traditional precepts about the world and mans relationship with his creator. Yet at the same …

Sickness: Throughout Frankenstein , several characters, but especially Victor, grow sick during periods of extreme stress. Frankenstein demonstrates such illness after he creates the monster and especially after his friend, Clerval, dies. Other characters, such as his mother and father, also experience extreme sickness, yet to Victor, at least, sickness serves as an escape from …

Character Profiles Robert Walton: Walton is the first narrator of the story. In his letters to his sister Margaret, he first explains his desire to explore the North Pole. Once he finds a ship and a crew, Walton does indeed head north, and after a few days, he encounters Victor Frankenstein, who comes aboard to …

Chapter 23: On the wedding night, everything seems to be going according to plan. Victor even brings along a pistol in case he sees his devilish nemesis. Soon, however, Frankenstein hears a blood-curdling scream coming from the room where his new wife is sleeping. When he enters, she is dead-strangled to death. Victor returns to …

Chapter 21: Before the court, Victor learns that he is a suspect in the recent murder of a young man. After seeing the corpse, Frankenstein is horrified to discover that the victim is Henry Clerval. After seeing the black marks on his neck, Victor is convinced that his monster is to blame. He spends three …

Chapter 19: Now in London with Clerval, Victor tries to relax, but finds it impossible. For several months, Frankenstein puts off the task in hand and travels around England with Clerval instead. Eventually, however, he tells his best friend to leave him alone for a few weeks. Then, in solitude, Victor begins the process of …

Chapter 17: Finally the beast finishes his narrative, reiterating his request for a mate, saying that he will terrorize Frankenstein and his family if he refuses. Victor is repulsed by the idea and tells the being that he will not create another of his kind. Yet after the monster tells Frankenstein that he and his …

Chapter 15: Now having finished the discussion of his “protectors,” Frankensteins monster describes three books that he finds near the cottage and decides to read. Usually, he explains, these books (Paradise Lost, Plutarchs Lives, and Sorrows of Werter) only serve to make him sink “into the lowest dejection.” He is especially struck by what he …